Fountain pen cleaning device



Feb. 17, 1953 o. cmiPMAN FOUNTAIN PEN CLEANING DEVICE IN V EN TOR.(729mm 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sbpt L: 27, 1949 Feb. 17, 1953 v D.CHAPMAN FOUNTAIN PENCLEANING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 591315 27,1-949 m i mm Feb. 17, 1953 D. CHAPMAN FOUNTAIN PEN CLEANING DEVICE 5Shefis-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 27, 1949 Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN PEN CLEANING DEVICE Dave- Chapman, Chicago, 111.,assignor to The Parker. Pen Company,-Janesville, Wis., a corporati'on of.Wisconsin Application September 27, 1949', Serial No. 118,100

13'0laims.

This invention relates 'to'fountain pen cleaningdevices andhasto' doparticularly with adevice for ccntrifugally expellingink or-other liquidfrom a fountain'pen; lfl hile'the device is adapted'for use withsubstantiallyall types of foun tain pens, it is especially-useful inconnection with fountainpens of: the type'having an-overflow inkcollectorr'wherein ink. is held by capillary' action.

It is desirable to be able to remove substantially all of the ink. froma fountain pen when cleaning it or whenchanging from one type or colorof ink to; another; his almost impossible to do so by operating thefilling mechanism of a fountain pen. of the type having an overflowcollector of the capillary type; Moreover, when a washingliquid suchaswater or othersolvent is employed to flush the ink'from thepen, suchliquid is itself retained in' the collector. It has been found thatsubstantially all of the ink or other liquid which maybe in a fountainpen may be expelled by the application of considerable force on the inkor other liquid in the pen such as the centrifugal force resultingfromrotating the pen withthe point disposed radially outwardly of theaxisofrotation.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple andv effective devicefor centrifugally expelling ink or other. liquid. from, a. fountain pen.

Another object of the invention is tov provide a device of the foregoingcharacter wherein the cleaning operationmay be visually observed duringthe cleaning. operation.

Another object'i's to provide a. device which. is attractive and whichmay be. employed, as an attentionsattracting display, as well. asserving the utilitarian. purpose of cleaning a fountain pen.

Another object is to provide a pen-cleaning device operating on thecentrifugal principle and having effective means forconfining andcollecting the ink or other liquid expelled-from the pen and preventingsuch ink or liquid from being thrown against the operator or observer,or adjacent objects.

Still another object is to provide a cleaning device wherein thefountain pen may be quickly and easily inserted for the cleaningoperation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal cleaningdevice having simple driving means for manually rotating a fountain penat sufiicient speed to centrifugally eject the ink or cleaning liquidtherefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described adapted for the display of other merchandise such asink for fountain pens;

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fountain pencleaning devicein the form of a display device wherein the cleaningoperation may be observed as the device is mounted on a counter and thecleaningoperation performed by an operator behindthe-counter.

Another object is to provide a completely equipped pen cleaning stationat which is located both a pen rotating mechanism, which is-attractivelyhoused, and also the variouspencleaning and servicing supplies, such ascleaningliquid, wiping chamois and-bottles of :ink, whichare readilyaccessible to the operator but concealed from the observer.

Other objects and I advantages will appear. from the followingdescription and the appended drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspectiveview illustrating.- the device of myinvention;-

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view of thedevice of. Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is -a fragmentary, front elevationalview ofv the pen-holdingmeans of the device of'Fig. 1 and a portion of the-associated casing;

Fig; 5 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional-view, partly in elevation,illustrating another embodiment of my device; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along line, 6-6 of- Fig.5.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1- to 3 of the drawings, thecleaning device comprises a cabinet it for enclosing the mechanism forwhirling the pen, which cabinet preferably is formed of plastic or woodand; so constructed as to serve also, as a display stand formerchandise, as for example, bottles of ink. The. cabinet H! is formedwith a lower or base portion ll and an upper portion l2 upstanding fromthe base portion and. adapted to. house the pen rotatin or whirlingmechanism hereinafter described more in detail. The base portion Ilincludesside members 13 connected by a top member 1A, a front rail iii.and a floor member l6v (Fig. 3). Extending between the side members itare a plurality of inclined shelf members I! and an inclined partition18 (Fig. 3). providing racks for displaying merchandise, such racks inthe present illustrative embodiment being particularly adapted forsupporting bottles of ink.

The rear of the base H is. open (Figs. 2 and 3) for permitting access tothe interior so that the user can place'bottles of ink, cleaning fluid,pieces of chamois skin for wiping pens, and the like on the floormember. I5, as will hereinafterappear, the latter being provided withsuitably shaped and arranged sockets, one of which I9 is shown (Fig, 3).

The upstanding cabinet portion l2 preferably is formed by an upstanding,inclined front wall 253, a generally vertical rear wall 2|, and acombined side and top wall 2'2 extending between the front and rearwalls 20 and 2| respectively. Swingably mounted on the rear wall 2| asby hinges 23 is a door 24 adapted to form with the rear wall a closurefor the rear of the upper portion of the cabinet, which door is adaptedto be held in closed position by a suitable latch 25. The upper cabinetportion I2 is suitably secured on the base portion II as by gluing, andthe top member 14 of the base portion ll thus serves as a bottom closurefor the upper cabinet portion [2.

The inclined front wall member 2|) is formed with a large circularopening 38 for the purpose of permitting the cleaning operation to beobserved, as will be described hereinafter. The mechanism for whirlingthe pen is arranged to support the pen in a generally upright posi-':

tion and the window is so arranged that when the display is located on acounter of customary height, the pen is in the normal line of vision ofan observer standing before the counter and may be viewed conveniently.The opening 30 is closed b a dome-shaped window member 3| formed oftransparent material, such as glass or a suitable plastic, molded to thedesired shape. It may be explained at this point that all portions ofthe device which are normally subject to contact with the ink orcleaning liquids are formed of materials which are inert to the ink orother liquids. I.

The window member 3! is secured in position closing the opening 30, withthe principal portion of the window member 3| projecting forwardlybeyond the front wall 20. To this end the opening 3| preferably isformed complementally to the adjacent portion of the window member 3iand the latter is provided with a flat rim 32. In order to catch andcollect the ink or other liquid which is expelled from a pen beingwhirled, an annular trough is provided within defining a cleaningchamber 3! containing the pen holder and a portion of its supportingshaft.

The aforesaid trough may be formed in various ways and in the embodimentof my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 it is formed by an annularportion 38 of the window member BI and by a ring 33 having the generalshape of a portion of a cone disposed opposite the portion 38. In lieuof providing the separate metal ring 33, the window member may be formedwith an integral, inwardly extending peripheral flange (not shown)generally similar in shape to the ring 33 and adapted to form with theadjacent portion of the window a trough generally similar to the troughjust described. Where a window member having an integral, skirt-likeflange is em- 2' ployed, the window member preferably is secured directlto the wall, as by cement.

The window member 3! is secured in position preferably by the annularring 33, which preferably is formed of metal, and is spun or peenedaround the rim 32 and which ring 33 itself is secured to the front wall20. The ring 33 preferably has a channel shaped rim 35 which is securedto the front wall 29 by cementing the forward flange of the channel tothe rear face of the front wall 2B However, if desired the rim 34instead of being channel-shaped may be generally Z-shaped incross-section with an ou* wardly extending flange (not shown) adapted tobe secured to the front wall 21] by screws, or the channel may beL-shaped and the window member secured directly to the wall 20 as bycement. An annular gasket or gaskets (not shown) of rubber or cork maybe interposed between the rim 32 and the rim 34 or between the rim 34and the front Wall '20, or both, in order to prevent vibration of theWindow member 3 i. A bezel ring 35 preferably formed of metal issuitably secured in the opening 3!}, as by tacks 35, for decorativepurposes and for preventing dust from lodg ing in the crevice formedbetween the Window member SI and the opening 30.

The aforementioned casing which defines the cleaning chamber 31 isformed in part by the window member 3! and ring 33 and is completed by adome-shaped rear closure or partition member 48, preferabl formed ofthin metal and suitably secured as by cement to a mounting block 4icarried by the door 2 3. The rear closure member 43 is of suchdimensions and arrangement that its forward peripheral edge is disposedclose to the innerperipheral edge of the ring so as to provide asubstantially closed casing with the ring 33 and window member 3!. Themember 40 preferably is formed with concentric circular steps orcorrugations 42 which serve both to stiffen the member and to provide anattractive ornamental appearance. Inasmuch as the member 48 is mountedon the swingable door 24, access to the interior of the casing 31 may behad by swinging the door 24 to open position.

Mechanism is provided for supporting within the cleaning chamber 3! afountain pen to be cleaned and for rotating. the fountain pen about anaxis transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pen and inwardly ofthe writing end of the pen so that ink or any other liquid which is inthe pen is centrifugally expelled therefrom. To this end a pen holder orsupport $5 is rotatably mounted in the casing 3i by a shaft 48 extending along the axis of the casing. The pen holder includes a spring clip4'? adapted to receive a fountain pen P therein and a generally trough:shaped member 48 extending perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft if:and carrying at one end a socket 49 formed of rubber or other suitablesoft and resilient material having an opening 5!) therein adapted toreceive the writing end of the pen P. The member 58 preferably hasupstanding sides 5| adjacent the clip 4! for maintaining the latter inthe desired position with respect to the member 48. The member 48 alsopreferably extends on the opposite side of the axis of rotation from theend which carries the socket mem ber 49 to beyond the rear end of thepen P to provide a counterbalance for the socket-carrying end of thismember. The member S8 and the clip 47 are secured to the end of theshaft in a suitable manner as by a screw 53.

The shaft 4%: has a reduced portion 55, which may be constituted by aseparate member forcefitted into the forward shaft portion, journ.

in a needle bearing 56 force-fitted into a bearing sleeve 5'? which issoldered or otherwise suitably secured to the rear member 40 and whichextends into an opening 58 in the mounting block 4|; The shaft portion5.") is journ'aledin a needle bearing 59 force-fitted intoa sutable-recess 60 formed in the door 2'4.

The shaft is adapted to be rotated by manual operation by theoperator'and to this end a driving mechanism is provided wherebyrelatively rapid rotation of the shaft may be" accomplished. For thispurpose a driven pulley 6Iis"'secured" to the shaft portion as by a setscrew 62 -and is driven by a belt 63 -trained'over a driving pulley 64of substantially greater diameter than the driven pulley 61. The drivingpulley-64 is secured to a shaft as bya' set screw G6= The -shaft 65extends perpendicularly through the door" 24 and is journaled in aneedle'bearing "Bl'pressfitted in the door 24 andprojecting rearwardlytherefrom. An actuating crank 68 is secured. to the shaft 65 as by ascrew 69. Y

It will be seen from the'foregoing that rotation of the shaft 48 andconsequent rotation of the pen holder 45 about the axis of the shaft 46may be readily accomplished by actuation of the crank 68 by theoperator. The turning of the crank 58 rotates theshaft' 65 and in turnthe pulley it carried thereby. This, through the belt 53, rotates theshaft portion 55 which rotates the shaft 4e.

When the pen P is rotated in the manner above described, ink is expelledby centrifugal 1 force from the writing end of the pen and, if the door24 is closed so that the pen holder is in its proper operating position;the ink impinges against the-'zone 33 of the. window member 3! Which isradially outwardly opposite the path of movement of the writing end ofthepen and which forms a portion of the trough as wellas against thering 33. The ink which thus impinges against the window member 31 drainsdownwardly into the trough-like space between the lower portion of thering 33 andthe horizontally opposite portion 380ithe window member 3!from whence it passes through 'a drainhole '50 provided in the ring 33.'Disposed under the drain hole H3 is a drainpipellsecured in the L topmember M and having its upper end appropriately shaped to receive allthe ink'passing through the drain hole. Disposed under the drainpipe His a suitable collecting receptacle i2 such as an ink bottle which isseated in the socket It in the floor whereby the receptacle ismaintained in proper position under the drainpipe H.

In order to assist in draining ink which has impinged against the windowmember 3!;a plurality of concentric circular grooves 13 preferably areformed, as by molding or etching. in the inner surface of the window-member 3| throughout the zone 33 against which ink-is apt to impinge. Acircular flange or baflie 14 preferably is formed integrally with thewindow member 3! and projects rearwardly from the inner face thereof inposition to prevent ink from impinging against the window member on aportion thereoff'forwardly of the normal zone ofimpin'ge'me'ntbf theink. Thus the portion of the"windo'w" member 3! forwardly of the 'zoneof normal impingement is maintained clear andtransp'a rent so that thecleaning operation may be readily observed and there is no detractionfrom the attractive appearance of the display. 'Preferably thezonefifiof the window member 3! rearwardly of the flange i4 is coated withcolored lacquer; so that the ink or ink residue which lodges therein isconcealed from the observer. It] should be exat the lower portionthereof.

" the socket to aid in'retaining the bottle '52.

'andthr-ir of such surfaces.

plained at this point that all of the inner surfaces of the memberswhich define the ink the trough and does not spatter against portions'of'the' device outside the trough.

In using the device to clean a fountain pen, the door 24 is swung open,after releasing the latch 25, which swings the rear wall member l!) aswell as the pen holder'away from the cooperat- 'ing ring and renders thepen holder readily accessible. A pen is inserted in the holder byintroducing the writing end into the socket 5i a'ndforcing the body ofthe pen into the spring clip 41' The door 24 is then closed, wh chaction swings the pen holder and pen'carried thereby into positionwithin the cleaning chamber 37. The crank 68 is rotated, which rotatesthe pen about the axis of the shaft 56 and centrifugally expels from thepen any ink which may remain therein. The ink thus expelled isdrainedfrom the" casing in the manner above described and deposited inthe receptacle 1?. If it is desired to flush the pen it is removed fromthe holder and water or other flushing liquid is drawn into the pen byactuation of the filling mechanism of the pen. The pen is thereafterinserted in the holder and again introduced into the cleaning chamber 31and rotated to expel the flushing liquid, whereaft'er the pen'may beremoved and is substantial- 1y emptied of all flushing liquid.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, there is illustratedanother embodiment of my inventionwhich is generally similar inconstruction and operation to'that hereinabove described but whichdiifersfromthe previously described embodiment incertain constructionaldetails which will now be described. It will be understood that wherethe second embodiment is not 'described'in detail it is similar to thepreviously described embodiment.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and *6, thecabinet preferably is generally'similar to the cabinet illustrated inFigs. I to '3 inclusive and described in connection therewith, except,however, that the floor memher" (not shown) is adapted to carry onlybottles of in and cleaning liquid and does not support theink-collecting receptacle i2. Instead, the receptacle i2 is carried in ashelf-like rack mounted on the inner face of the rear door 8% The rack8% is formed with a socket 3'! open on three sides; exceptat its extremebottom portion, to permit ready insertion of the bottle 52, and a bail33 is pivotedto the rack 89 adjacent the top of The top member 79issuitably cut away as at 39 to permit the rack to be positionedsuitably, as shown in Fig. 5. With this arrangement the receptacle' isswung out of the cabinet, when the doo'nis 'op'ened; for a purpose whichwill hereinafter ap earn The upstanding portion of the cabinet isprovidedwith a dome-shaped window'rne-mbcr in amann'er'gene'rallysimilar to" the window mem- 3i -eacept thatthe window mez'nber 32 is ofsimple dome shape a-ndpreferably does not extend r'earwardly beyond theopening 33 in which iti's located and does not form any portion ofthe'trough." The window member '82 issecured in position by a pluralityof metal clips 84 secured to the inner face of the front wall member 85as by screws 86.

Cooperating with the window member 32 to define a cleaning chamber 98 isa circular parti tion or baffle member 9! which for convenience inmanufacture preferably is constituted by a dished circular member 92 andan annular ring member $23, both of which preferably are formed ofmetal. The member 92 is secured as by soldering to a. mounting plate 94attached as by screws 95 and 93 to a mounting bracket 91, which screws95 and 96 also extend through the door BI for securing the plate 9 3 andbracket 9'! thereto. Spacing bushings 98 are provided on the screws 3583 respectively for spacing the plate 9t and bracket 91. The member 92preferably is formed with a series of concentric, circular steps Hid forthe purpose of stiffening the member and providing an attractiveappearance.

At its periphery the member 92 is provided with an annular rim or flangelill adapted to telescopingly receive a circular flange portion H12 ofthe member 93. The body portion of the latter is of generally conicalform which, when the member Qi is in the position shown in Fig. 5,extends into the window member 82 and is located closely adjacent'therim of the latter. The member 93 is formed with an inturned lip HMsurrounding the forward opening in this member. The member 93 and theadjacent portions of the member 9| thus together provide a trough shapedand positioned to receive and retain all of the ink which is expelledfrom the pen.

A pen holder H9 is rotatably mounted in the chamber 93 by a shaft illjournaled in a bearing sleeve H2 which extends through and is secured inthe mounting plate 94 as by peening over the projecting end N3 of thesleeve H2.

The shaft ill also has a bearing in the mount- .1

ing bracket 97 to aid in maintaining its alignment.

The pen holder Hill which is secured to the outer end of the shaft Illas by a screw H4 includes a metal strip formed at one end to provide atrough-shaped seat H5 for the writing end of the pen P. At this end thepen holder is provided with a ring H5 serving to retain the pen againstthe seat and against displacement. Inwardly of the end of the pen holderI H a ring l H is provided which is somewhat larger than the ring 118and is adapted to receive the body of the pen therein. A leaf spring H8is secured to the pen holder strip adjacent the ring HS and extends inan inward direction along the member with a portion inclined away from.the member and adapted to resiliently urge the pen body against the ringH! for yieldably holding the pen in position. At the end of the stripopposite the ring MS a counterweight H9 is attached for counterbalancingthe weight of the opposite end of the holder and of the pen carriedthereby.

It will be noted that the pen holder H is of such form and arrangementthat when the pen P is disposed therein in normal position the pen isinclined slightly to the axis of rotation of the shaft Iii; however, thewriting end of the pen is disposed a substantial distance outwardly ofsuch axis. It will also be noted from inspection of Fig. of the drawingsthat the writing end of the pen is disposed within the trough formed byperipheral portion of the partition member 9| and the ring 93 wherebywhen the pen is rotated ink or other liquid which is ejected from thewriting end of the pen impinges against the interior surface of thetrough. The conical body I03 and the'inturned lip I04 serve as a baffleto prevent any ink from spattering against the window member 82 or theadjacent interior portions of the cabinet. Ink which impinges againstthe walls of the trough drains downwardly and is collected in the bottomportion thereof, from whence it flows through a drain hole I provided inthe bottom portion of the member 92 and is collected in the receptaclel2.

Suitable driving means are provided for r0- tating the shaft I l I,which means in the present embodiment of the invention include a geardrive instead of a belt drive as illustrated in connection with thepreviously described embodiment. The gear drive includes a driven gear lsecured on the shaft I II at the portion thereof which extends betweenthe mounting plate 94 and the bracket 91'. A driving gear I26 ofsubstantially greater diameter than the driven gear l25 is secured on ashaft l2! journaled in the mounting plate 94 and bracket 91 andextending through an opening H28 in the door 8i. The driving gear I 26is positioned between the plate 94 and bracket 9'! by its hub i253 and aspacing collar [35]. Secured to the end of the shaft I21 which projectsthrough the door 8| is a crank l3! for rotating the shaft I21.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the second described embodimentof the invention operates in a manner generally similar to the firstdescribed embodiment. However, it will be noted that the member 9!provides in effect a self-contained receptacle for confining andcollecting the ink ejected from the fountain pen and the window member82 serves only as a closure element for closing the opening in the frontwall 85 of the cabinet. The member 9i as well as the receptacle 12 areswung out of the cabinet when the door 8| is opened. By reason of theconstruction of the member 9|, no ink is permitted to impinge upon thewindow member 82. However, in order to conceal the member 93, theadjacent peripheral zone of the window member 82 may be frosted orpainted.

In both forms of the invention all of the metal surfaces of the penholder, or at least those surfaces adapted to contact the fountain pen,preferably are flocked with rayon or other suitable soft material inorder to prevent marring or scratching the polished surface of thefountain pen. The drive ratio of the driving mechanism is selected sothat when the crank is manually operated at a speed which is comfortableand convenient to the operator, the writing end of the pen is caused totravel at a velocity sufficient to cause all of the ink or other liquidto be expelled from the pen but insufiicient to cause spattering of theink. It has been found that a drive ratio of from about 3 to 1 up toabout 5 to '1 provides a desired velocity where the crank is rotated ata comfortable speed of for example around up to around R. P. M.

The device of the present invention preferably is so constructed as toprovide a neat and attractive appearance which will add to the value ofthe device as a display. Thus, the metal surfaces which can be observedthrough the window, as for example the surfaces of the members 40 and9!, are polished and lacquered. Moreover, the bezel ring is suitablyfinished as by enameling or bronzing to present an attractive butunobtrusive appearance. The exposed surfaces of the cabinet are stainedand varnished or otherwise suitably finished. 7

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides apen-cleaning device" which not only has great utility for use incleaning fountain pens but also has substantial value" as anattention-attracting display. The enstomer or-prospective customer isable to observe the fountain pen while it is'being whirled to eject inkor cleaning liquid therefrom and his 'atten-' tion is focused upon thepen while it is being whirled. The advantages of an active displaydevice of this character as contrasted to a passive display are so wellknown as to require no de-- tailed discussion. The pen holder beingmounted on the door, which may be swung to a fullyopen' position, isreadily accessible to the operator and thus a pen may be inserted in orremoved from the holder quickly, conveniently and without danger ofimpairing or marring the pen. Moreover, since all of the drivingmechanism is also mounted on the door, both the holder and drivingmechanism may be constructed as a selfcontained unit. we

The device is one which can be economically and easily constructed andassembled and re--- quires no particular skill upon the part of theoperator in View of the simplicity of operation. The driving mechanismis such that it permits the pen to be rotated about an axis with thewriting end traveling at a substantial linear velocity sufficient toeject by centrifugal force substam tially all of the ink or cleaningliquid which may be held within the pen, even where the pen is one ofthe type having a capillary type ink collector.

The arrangement of the ink receiving trough Y insures against spatteringof ink against other portions of the display or against the observer.

The ink is conveniently channeled to a small receptacle which can bereadily removed and emptied from time to time. The central portion ofthe window in the first form of the invention and the entire window inthe second form'playno part in catching ink expelled from the peninasmuch as the trough 'is so designed that all of the ink is retainedtherein, as explained hereinbefore.

The cabinet not only serves as an en closure for the cleaning mechanismbut also as" a convenient means for mounting the various bottles of inkand cleaning liquids which are employed in cleaning pens and in changingfrom one type of ink to another. Moreover, the device not only serves asan active display of the pen being cleaned but also permits the displayof other mechandise such as bottles of ink.

I claim:

1. A device for centriiugally expelling ink or other liquid from afountain pen comprising a" fountain pen holder, means mounting saidholder for rotation about an axis and in a position to support afountain pen on said holder with its" writing end extending outwardlyaway from said axis, a casing substantially enclosing said holder" andat least a portion-of said mounting means,

and including a relatively fixed section and a relatively movablesection, and common movable supporting means supporting said holder,mounting means and relatively movable'casing section for movement as aunit away from said relatively fixed section to re nder said holderaccessible for attachment or removal of a fountain pen. 5

2. A device for centrifugally expelling ink or I other liquid from afountain pen'comprisinga holder for a fountain pen, means mounting said"holder for rotation about an axis and in a position to support afountain pen carried thereby with its writing" end'extending outwardlyfrom said axis; mechanism fo1-rotating said holder, a

cabinet enclosing said holder mounting means" and'a portion ofsaid'mechanism and including a wall having a transparent portionpositioned to expose said holder to view 'anda partition meinberdisposed'in said cabinet-and'forming with said wall a casingsubstantiallyenclosingsaid holder andat least'a portion of said mountingmeans.

3. A' device for centrifugally cleaning a foun-- tain pen, saiddevi'cecomprising a casing defining a substantially vertically positionedchamber,

means for mounting thepen to be cleaned in the 1 chamberfs'aid' chamberadapted to collect thefiuid'discharged from the pen in the cleaningoperation, said mounting meansbeing adapted forsupporting the fountainpen substantially vertically for rotation about a transverse axis withthe point of the pen contiguous to a portion of the outer periphery ofthe chamber surround ingthe axis during the cleaning operation, and

means for rotating said' mounting means whereby the fluid within the penis centrifugally ejected,

saidcha'mber having an-opening in its lower portionior discharging theejected fluid.

4. 'A device "-for centrifugally cleaning a fountain-pen, said devicecomprising a' casing defining a chamber inclined to the horizontal,means for mounting the pen to" be cleaned in the-chamber, said chamberformed with an annular recess": adapted to collect the fluid dischargedfrom the pen the meaningoperation, said mounting means being adapted forverticallysupporting the f ountain pen substantially in aplaneintermediate the front and rear ends of'the chamber'whereby the'penis adapted to eject the "fluid withinthe chamber as said last-mentionedmeans is rotated, meanspperatively connected to said mounting means 'forrapidly rotating the fountain pen whereby the fluid within the pen iscentrifugally ejected into the aforesaid annular recess, means adaptedto discharge thefluid from the aforesaid recess, andmeans for receivingthe fluid drained from the recess. K J v 5; 'A device for cleaningfountain pens comprisinga chamber inclined to' the horizontal and thechamber as said last-mentioned means is 1 rotated, means forrotatablymounting the pen supporting means on the movable wall surfaceof the chamber, said movable wall surface adapted when separatedfrom-the chamber to permit the attaching and-detaching of the fountainpen to the pen supporting means, and in the closed posi-- tion of themovable'wall surface with the fountain pen positioned within the chamberpermitting rotation of thefountain pen whereby the fluid within thefountain pen isejected." T

'6.-A device forcleaning fountain pens-comprising a'chamberinclined fromthe vertical and adapted formounting 'a pen to be cleaned therein, saidchamber comprising atransparent wallf surface and a refiectirigire'elrwall'surface, one of said surfacesadaptedto be movable whereby thefountain pen to be cleaned may be positioned within the chamber, saidchamber formed with an annular recess adapted to collect the fluiddischarged from the pen in the cleaning operation, means adapted forrotatably supporting the fountain pen substantially in a planeintermediate the front and rear end of the chamber, means for detachablymounting the pen on the pen supporting means, and means for rotating thepen supporting means whereby the fluid within the fountain pen iscentrifugally ejected.

7. A display device for accessories for a fountain pen comprising acabinet structure including a base and an upwardly inclined housingadapted to receive a device for cleaning fountain pens, said device forcleaning fountain pens comprising a casing defining a chamber mountedWithin the upwardly inclined housing and including a transparent frontwall therefor and a reflecting rear wall surface, said transparent wallsurface permitting the cleaning operation to be observed therethroughand through an opening in the upwardly inclined housing, one of saidsurfaces being movable whereby the fountain pen to be cleaned may bepositioned within the chamber.

8. A displa device for accessories for a fountain pen comprising acabinet structure including a, base and an upwardly inclined housingadapted to receive a device for cleaning fountain pens, said upwardlyinclined housing includinga front transparent wall surface and a movablerear closure member, said device for cleaning fountain pens including achamber, one wall of said chamber formed by the aforesaid transparentwall surface of the housing, said chamber including a rear wall surface,means for supporting the fountain pen substantially in a planeintermediate the front and rear ends of the chamber on said rear wallsurface, said rear wall surface of the chamber and the movable rear wallclosure for the housing being affixed together, whereby, as the closurefor the housing is opened the rear wall surface of the chamber is movedto a position enabling mounting and dismounting of a fountain pen to becleaned on said supporting means.

9. A display device for accessories for a fountain pen comprising acabinet structure including a base and an upwardly inclined housingadapted to receive a device for cleaning fountain pens, said upwardlyinclined housing including a front transparent wall surface and amovable rear closure member, said device for cleaning fountain pensincluding a chamber adapted 'to receive the fountain pen, one wall ofsaid chamber formed by the aforesaid transparent wall surface of thehousing, said chamber including an annular recess adapted to receive thefluid discharged from the fountain pen during the cleaning operation,said chamber including a rear wall surface, one of said wall surfaces ofsaid chamber being movable whereby the fountain pen is adapted to bepositioned within the chamber, means for supporting the fountain pensubstantially in a plane intermediate the front and rear end of thechamber, means for rotating said supporting means, said rotating meansbeing positioned intermediate the rear wall surface of the chamber andthe movable rear closure member, means operatively connected to therotating means extending exteriorly of the housing, and said rear wallsurface of the chamber and the movable rear closure member being movabletogether, whereby, as the housing is opened and closed, the chamber isopened and closed permitting the mounting and dismounting of a fountainpen to be cleaned within the chamber.

10. A device for centrifugally cleaning a fountain pen comprising achamber adapted for mounting the pen to be cleaned therein, said chambercomprising a front transparent wall surface and a rear wall surface, oneof said surfaces being movable for permitting the mounting of a fountainpen within the chamber, means adapted for rotatably supporting thefountain pen to be cleaned in a plane within the chamber, means forresilientl clamping the fountain pen on said supporting means, wherebythe fountain pen is positioned to discharge fluid outwardly against theouter periphery of the chamber, said chamber adapted to receive thedischarged fluid, said fountain pen and said supporting means beingsubstantially counterbalanced in the operating position, means forrotating said supporting means, and drive means interconnecting saidrotating means and supporting means for rotating the supporting means ata greater rate of speed than said rotating means.

1 A device for centrifugally cleaning a fountain pen comprising achamber adapted for mounting the pen to be cleaned therein, said chambercomprising a front transparent Wall surface and a rear wall surface, oneof said sur-- faces being movable permitting the mounting of a fountainpen within the chamber, means adapted for rotatably supporting thefountain pen to be cleaned in a plane intermediate the front and rearwall surfaces of the chamber, said chamber having a recess adapted toreceive the fluid discharged from the fountain pen formed contiguous tothe front wall surface and intermediate the front and rear wall surfacesof the chamber, said recess adapted to discharge the fluid collected inthe recess to a receptacle exteriorly of the chamber, said supportingmeans being adapted to be counterbalanced .by means of the fountain penmounted therein, and drive means operatively connected to saidsupporting means, whereby a fountain pen mounted on said supportingmeans is rapidly rotated centrifugally ejecting any fluid retainedwithin the pen, causing the fluid discharged to be collected in therecess and discharged therefrom during the cleaning operation.

12. A device for centrifugally cleaning a fountain pen comprising achamber adapted to receive the fountain pen for rapid rotation therein,a movable wall portion for the chamber whereby a fountain pen to becleaned may be positioned within the chamber, rotatable means fordetachably supporting the fountain pen in the cleaning position with thepoint thereof contiguous to the outer periphery of the chamber, drivemeans for rotating said rotatable means, and common movable supportingmeans for supporting said drive means and movable wall portion of thechamber whereby the movable wall portion and the drive means movetogether in response to movement of the movable wall portion toward andfrom the remaining portion of the chamber in the operation ofpositioning of the fountain pen to be cleaned upon said rotatable means.

13. A device for centrifugally ejecting ink or other liquid from afountain pen including a holder for the pen, means mounting said holderfor rotation about an axis with the writing end of a pen in the holderoutwardly of said axis, means defining a relatively stationary annulartrough radially outwardly of the path of the Writing end 13 of the pen,and a cabinet having an outwardly movable wall portion carrying saidholder and mounting means on its inner side for movement of saidelements into and out of said cabinet as a unit.

DAVE CHAPMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hinton June 28, 1904 Number NumberNumber

